Jazz Patrol / Art of Jazz, CMC, and more

Sweet sounds of Jazz in WNY

By Ron Ehmke

Cyrille Aimée

Photo by Ariane+Rousselier

Lovers of what is now generally referred to as “the Great American Songbook” presented in relatively straightforward fashion won’t want to miss the Bill Charlap Trio when they take the stage on Saturday, October 26 as part of the Albright-Knox’s always exemplary Art of Jazz series. Pianist Charlap has devoted entire albums to the songs of Leonard Bernstein, Hoagie Carmichael, George Gershwin, and (in collaboration with no less than Tony Bennett) Jerome Kern. He’s joined in a trio setting by bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington (the two are not related), who have performed with him since 1997.

French vocalist Cyrille Aimée hits the Colored Musicians Club for a matinee performance (part of the CMC International Jazz FestivalOctober 11-13, presented by M&T and cosponsored by WNED/WBFO) on Sunday, October 13. Grounded in gypsy swing, bossa nova, and Latin rhythms (including several projects with Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo), she’s never stopped exploring new territory, as evidenced by her latest album: 2019’s Move On, a witty, sophisticated, enchanting deep dive into less-well-known Sondheim show tunes. Read more about the festival, buy passes and see the full schedule HERE.

Buffalo native Dan Willis left for the big city on the other side of the state—and work backing a crazily eclectic batch of acts includingWynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, James Taylor, Cher, Cyndi Lauper, and Mos Def—quite a while ago, but the Satie-smitten saxophonist returns home for a gig at Pausa with his backing band, Velvet Gentlemen, on Friday, October 11.

Finally, I’m including guitarist William Tyler’s appearance at Ironworks on Tuesday, October 2, here, because although he’s more often considered a rock performer (albeit a quiet one), his intricate solos on his instrument of choice ought to be on the radar of folks who love jazz guitar, too. His talent is far larger than any category a record label might be tempted to wedge him into, and his aesthetic is broad enough to thrill just about anyone with a taste for musical adventure.